I can only hope that the millions of WoW addicts around the world will take a minute to reflect upon how profoundly his contributions shaped not only MMORPGs, but every conceivable manifestation of fantasy gaming.

It actually hurts that I'll never have the chance to thank him in person.

On November 1, 1973, E. Gary Gygax wrote these words... and changed the world:

"These rules are strictly fantasy. Those wargamers who lack imagination, those who don't care for Burroughs' 'Martian Adventures' where John Carter is groping through black pits, who feel no thrill upon reading Howard's 'Conan' saga, who do not enjoy the 'de Camp & Pratt' fantasies or Fritz Leiber's 'Fafhrd and Gray Mouser' pitting their swords against evil sorceries will not be likely to find 'DUNGEONS & DRAGONS' to their taste. But those whose imaginations know no bounds will find that these rules are the answer to their prayers. With this last bit of advice we invite you to read on and enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!"

...and the fact that you're even reading this proves that the magic DID work.

Rest in peace, Dungeon Master...

second that

Most definitely. That would be awesome!

And you should get to kill him rofl.

Everyone fails their last one...

@z4nd4r

Untrue. Jesus saved and took half damage.

May he rest in Peace. He did create an entire world for some of us who grew up in the proper time frame. I didn't come into D&D until the 2nd edition books were out, but just reading the Fiend Folio, Dieties and Demigods, Monster Manual, and the Player and DM Handbooks was in its own ways as much fun as time spent in-game.

He took his magic system, curiously, from Jack Vance's system as depicted in his Dying Earth stories (and maybe others, none come to mind though), in what I have read was an effort to use a magic system unlike any reality-based occult beliefs.

While alive for it, I didn't play in any serious way until college, when I was playing 3rd Edition. I was president of the college's RPG club (The FORGE), and I still have it on my resume (President, Vice President and Treasuer of a 50+ member social organization requiring budgeting and marketing skills) to this day.

Even the oldbies in our group would tell us says of AD&D, and some back even further. It was a real special part of a lot of lifetimes, and I think a lot of us long-time gamers could go back to individual characters we loved, even fondly thinking of character death.

I remember once being forced on trial when my party-mate was found stealing, and when found, killing guards, and when I was honest on the stand. The PC was executed and I was haunted by a new ghostly apparition angry with me for telling the truth. Eventually he took over the body of our party's Moriarty and we had an epic fight, where I sacrificed myself to save my SO (who was also my RL SO. I don't mind saying, that was a fun night despite the loss of a character I invested 12 levels of time into, if you catch my drift.)

Happy memories despite the saddness. Gary gets to take 20 into the history books as one of the people who helped influence my life, along with my Uncle, my parents, and several teachers. I smile happily and wish peace to his family, and I hope they know how happy he made a lot of us.

So wrong, but so right :)

/hail Gygax.

Maybe including Orcs in the list of "things slain" wasn't the best move though Dan ;)